Dreamy Diana

It's been a little bit since my last mention of Photojojo.  I've slowed down on the purchasing in order to spend some quality time with the items I've already had them send my way.  With that said, I've been having some fun lately with my Dirty Dreamy Diana lens, a plastic lens for my digital Canon.  I ordered this little lomographic beauty a handful of months back.  And since then she's nestled herself in quite nicely amongst my super secret spy lens and my camera phone lenses. I've been using her here and there and lately have figured it's time for her to take a more prominent place in my lens rotation.  Here's a look back at the day she arrived on my doorstep.

Here's one little test shot I took on the day of its arrival.  I've already been snapping a few more here and there, so pretty soon I'm hoping to have more to share.  This is a picture of a painting that used to hang on the wall in the basement of the home of my Dutch grandparents.  The other is a gift from my mother-in-law, which was originally a gift to her Dutch in-laws. 

Sigh, dreamy indeed.

More to come,

-Heather

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Bokeh Heaven

Sigh, like a hands together next to my cheek, head tilted like my tilt shift camera, eyes to the sky, sigh.  Photojojo, thanks for introducing me to my tilt-shift digital camera.  Tilt-shift camera, thanks for introducing me to some major bokeh.  Bokeh, just, thanks.  You put me in such a dreamy mood.

Here are the results from my first ever tilt-shift camera testing-out adventure.  The camera has four color settings:  Vivid, Sepia, Standard, and Monochrome.  Here you'll find some test shots that show off the different color options in the preceding order, clockwise from top left.

While shooting with the tilt-shift I became curious about how it would compare to a shot taken with my Canon, same scene same vantage point.  Here are two shots to show off the different effect each camera provided.  Canon left, tilt-shift right.

My tilt-shift camera took the tiniest bit of research and practice to realize how to best use it.  This camera offers its best performance when shooting from elevated locations.  This little fact has offered me a whole new perspective on the perspective of my photos. It's very small, so I've been keeping it in my bag on the off chance I'll be in a great place to utilize it to the best of its ability. I'm excited to report it has a video option, as well as a voice recorder. Up to this point I have used neither, but I'm growing quite excited at the option of some bokeh'd out video. I know this is the 'easy way out' when it comes to tilt-shift photography, but as an amateur who isn't ready to make a major lens investment, this is certainly doing the trick.   I am totally pleased with this purchase.

Any of you out there have experience with tilt-shift photography?  I'd love to see what you've done!

Forever yours,

Heather

P.S.  I can't wait to show you my Chicago tilt-shift shots!

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Tilt-Shift Camera

Well, I'm beginning to grow a bit concerned.  I am developing quite the talent, err, affinity for, err, habit of shopping online.  I love getting things in the mail.  Things like this, and these, and these, and these, and these...and a few things I'm still getting around to showing you.  But people, having something to look forward to beyond the predictable junk that mucks up my mailbox really seems to brighten my spirits.  And, Photojojo is amazing.  For these reasons and a few others, I don't intend on pulling myself from my mail order maelstrom anytime soon.

So, for this installment of "What did Heather get in the mail today?" I offer you my tilt-shift camera.  I had been thinking about it for a while, so when my Chicago trip was booked (and with visions of reaching heights my little city just can't provide) the camera was purchased.   

I've played around with it a bit, and am trying to put together a couple of comparison shots to really see the different things this little camera can provide which non tilt shifted lenses cannot.  I'll keep you posted!

Kisses,

-Eightch 

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Spy Lens Splashings

Well, I've been doing a bit of spying.  I must tell you, this lens attachment is not necessarily a breeze to master.  But I will not give up!  I'm practicing my mental geometry, searching out ninety degree angles, invading peoples' space, unknowingly halting foot traffic.  To say the least, I've probably made a few people uncomfortable.  Oh well.

I took these shots during the Utah Arts Festival.  It was a great place for some good old fashioned people bothering watching.  I did hear someone pass by and say, as I was intently pointing my camera straight ahead into a wall, "What is she taking a picture of?" I laughed at the absurdity of my posturing, at the secret I was hoping to keep, and snapped away. I'm pretty sure I would never have gotten these shots had I been aiming my camera straight at these happy kiddos.

Here's to more!

Eightch

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Rearview Shades

When I was just a little gal I liked to eat Raisin Bran.  I still do, in fact I had the generic version for breakfast this morning.  But that is neither here nor there.  Luckily for little girl Heather, Parents bought name brand bran.  And on one of those name brand boxes of Raisin Bran was an offer to send away for some free Rearview Shades (which I found available for CURRENT purchase over on ebay, believe it or not).  So send away I did!  It was the only free cereal box item I ever sent away for, and I'm proud to say I utilized those babies (along with my little brother's plastic periscope) for some major covert ops.  I have great memories attached to my rearview shades, so when I came across this spy lens attachment over at Photojojo, I couldn't resist.

I've played around with it a bit. It will definitely take some practice before I'm ready to share some shots, but spy practice I shall! While perusing the Photojojo store I also came across these cell phone camera lenses. Specifically macro/wide angle, fisheye, and 2X telephoto. Yes please.

I'm super excited to play with my new gadgets. But watch out! If a weird lady is jostling to stand right next to you, pointing her camera forward, and you can't for the life of you figure out what she's trying to take a picture of because there's nothing remotely interesting in front of you to look at, it might just be ME taking a picture of YOU!

Beware!

H

P.S.  When you order from Photojojo, make sure to watch out for stowaways!

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